I expect that we’ll be in the middle of SAGSE Gaming Panama by the time you read these lines, where apart from splendid gaming exhibits the lotteries of Panama and Aruba will be on show for the first time. It is important to state that the Caribbean and Antilles sub regions also participate in this event, which is representative of the whole Central American region plus its numerous archipelagoes.

We were very pleased when we visited Cartagena in Colombia, where we visited the upgraded Rio Casino. Cirsa has really done a very good job, and clients were thrilled with the installation of Boss Gaming electronic roulette, which we were told soon reached record revenue.

News from Costa Rica about the possible loss of some 3,000 jobs in the industry is alarming, indeed. The job losses would be as a consequence of government measures to restrict casino opening hours to just eight. No doubt some of the good gaming people will find alternative positions in their region, especially in Chile where Sun International is recruiting for its Casino Mostazal, south of Santiago.

The National Public Service Authorities in Panama have reached an agreement with the local casinos in their energy saving campaign. According to reports, the casinos have agreed to switch off the exterior lights for twelve hours starting at 5.30 am, seven days a week.

After numerous suggestions and requests, our publishers Datateam have decided to further support the gaming industry on the whole of the American continent, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego and including territories as far as Bermuda and the Easter Islands. We have a surprise in store that come the first day of SAGSE Gaming Panama will surely be the talk of the town. We hope that our new project will be to your satisfaction.

Cheers,
Ricki.      


RITZIO PLANS MOVE INTO LATIN AMERICA WITH US$500M
Ritzio Entertainment Group will seek US$500 million to buy gaming chains in Europe and Latin America, while the Finstar holding company will look for $1 billion of new funds to bolster its store chains and property unit. Oleg Boyko, the Russian billionaire who controls Eastern Europe’s largest gaming company said: “Foreign gaming outlets are showing quite high sales growth and also high profitability”.

Ritzio wants to open gaming halls outside Russia, where the government is confining gambling to four regions beyond the nation’s main cities in July 2009. The company will sell shares in London when markets permit, according to Boyko, whose Finstar is adding to its property and retail units as a 10th straight year of economic growth fuels Russian incomes. Boyko added that the money will be raised through loans, bond sales and investment by individuals.


HOTEL CASINO CARRASCO ON SCHEDULE
The local government in Uruguay’s capital Montevideo (IMM for its Spanish acronym) announced yesterday that four companies had presented offers on the tender for Hotel Casino Carrasco. At a press conference Governor Ricardo Ehrlich said that the tender process terminated at 2.30pm and the companies applying were: Dongara Investments Inc., Argentur Inversiones Turísticas S.A., Endofix S.A. y Bahía Verde S.A.

It is understood that three of the companies are local subsidiaries of the hotel groups Pestana, Hyatt and Tsakos, from Portugal, United States of America and Greece respectively. Ehrlich said that as from today the authorities will start to assess the proposals for the commercial exploitation of the hotel as a luxury class property with complementary services in restaurants, dance hall, convention centre and sports facilities. The casino is also part of the tender project, but cannot exceed 20% of the hotel size.

The tender will be conducted on a 100 point system, with 40 points going to the architectural restoration of the landmark 1920s building. Plans for refurbishment, parking facilities, job creation, wage structures and international tourist attraction will all be awarded points. IMM has provided for a minimum royalty payment of US$1 million per year, starting in the fourth year of operation of the symbolic Uruguayan hotel casino. The winning tender will not necessarily be for the highest investment, but will be the project that will return the Hotel Casino Carrasco to its former glory and re-establish its significance for Montevideo.


PGS 2008 CONFIRMS 120 STANDS
The organizers of the Peru Gaming Show 2008, which takes place on 7-8 August in Lima, reported successful meetings during FADJA 2008 in Colombia, where some 90% of the companies expressed their intention to take part in the Peruvian event. Those interviewed have already exhibited or would show for the first time at PGS 2008, which is considered one of the fastest-growing events in the region.

Elizabeth Leiva, president of C&GS Group, organizers of the Peruvian event said: “The favourable political and economic stability in the country at a steady 7% p.a. during the past few years, plus the unique attractions offered by our country have enabled PGS 2008 to close the first quarter with great satisfaction.”

This year, PGS 2008 will be housed in the new Jockey Club Exhibition Centre, sited at Jockey Club of Peru’s Monterrico race track, which is the largest race track in Latin America. Leiva added: “Right now we have 120 stands confirmed for the event, and this can be best appreciated on our website floor plan. At our event, industry leaders will be able to network with other gaming companies to discuss incomparable business possibilities in our country”.

Leiva said that they are confident about continuing to exceed their targets, as well as supporting placement of products not only in Peru but the Latin American region generally, and concluded: “We anticipate that more leading firms will confirm participation in PGS 2008 in a thoroughly professional ambiance where additional activities have been planned according to the needs and interests of the gaming sector as a whole”.

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